View of Gulf Oil Spill Over Time

Two NASA satellites are capturing images of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which began April 20, 2010, with the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. This series of images reveals a space-based view of the burning oil rig and the ensuing oil spill, through May 24.

The imagery comes from the MODIS instruments aboard NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites. The oil slick appears grayish-beige in these images. The shape of the spill changes due to weather conditions, currents and the use of oil-dispersing chemicals.

Tropical Cyclone Near Hong Kong

May 27 at 1:35 a.m. EDT shows System 93W as a comma-like area of showers and thunderstorms. There are two areas of strong thunderstorms with very high, cold cloud tops (purple) east of the center of circulation.

The low pressure area is located near 20.4 North and 115.3 East, about 130 nautical miles southeast of Hong Kong. NASA's Aqua satellite flew over System 93W and the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument onboard captured an infrared image of it on May 27 at 1:35 a.m. EDT (05:35 UTC). The AIRS image showed System 93W as a comma-like area of showers and thunderstorms. AIRS infrared imagery indicated there were two areas of strong thunderstorms with very high, cold cloud tops east of the center of circulation.

Eastern Pacific for Tropical Development

On May 27 at 1:35 a.m. EDT (05:35 UTC) AIRS imagery showed System 90E developing the trademark tropical cyclone approximately 205 nautical miles south of Salina Cruz, Mexico near 12.8 North and 94.5 West.

AIRS infrared imagery indicated there were four areas of strong thunderstorms with very high, cold cloud tops around the center of circulation. Infrared satellite imagery indicates a slowly consolidating, broad low-level circulation center.

Keep Watch on Gulf Current Near Spill

Scientists and agencies monitoring the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico are keeping a wary eye on changes in the nearby Loop Current, a warm ocean current that is part of the Gulf Stream. Beginning as a large flow of warm water from the Caribbean, the Loop Current heads up into the eastern part of the Gulf of Mexico and then turns south before finally moving out through the Straits of Florida and northward into the Gulf Stream. Deep and fast moving, the Loop Current often breaks off and forms strong, clockwise rotating eddies called anticyclones that travel westward into the Gulf. The currents along the outer edges of the Loop Current, as well as these eddies, have been clocked at speeds as high as three to four knots (three to five miles per hour), comparable to the fastest ocean currents ever observed.

Because the Loop Current and its eddies are warmer, and thus higher in surface elevation, than the surrounding waters, they are easily spotted by satellite altimeters, such as those aboard the NASA/French Space Agency Jason 1 and Ocean Surface Topography Mission/Jason 2 satellites. Scientists use the latest satellite measurements of sea-surface height from these and other satellite altimeters to create maps showing the location, direction and speed of currents in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Aftermath of the Great Escape...

Might have known there would be some fall out from Bella's escape - she has caught canine flu; the Vet suspects it was from a combination of her being out all night and stressed and then spending a few hours at the pound.

Last Sunday morning took her to the Vets and $140 later, laden with pills, cough mixture and a needle she settled down to sleep the day away. The Vet warned me that Fozz would probably get it also as it was highly contagious - 7 - 10 days.

Sure enough 8 days later Fozz spent last night coughing all night and bringing up foam. I spent the night cleaning up and trying to reassure him until I could get him to the Vets. Gave him some of Bell's cough syrup as directed too.

So another $140 and another sick puppy (well big dog). Fozzie can manage to look sooo sooo sick and mournful....lol

I just hope he doesn't cough as much tonight so we can both get some sleep.....rotfl.

So I have two dogs who are spending most of their time sleeping with occasional forays outside to check the weather!

Although Bella is almost over it (well she spends most of her life sleeping anyway) she still wants some TLC and she is hogging the heater (even when it isn't on....lol

Please leave a comment so I know you visited......you know how all bloggers love to read comments!!

Tropical Storm Laila Northern Indian Ocean

The waning Laila over southeastern India on May 21 at 3:53 a.m. EDT. The purple indicates remaining strong thunderstorms.

This 3-D image of Cyclone Laila was made using data from TRMM's Precipitation Radar. It shows that the powerful thunderstorms northwest of tropical cyclone Laila shot up to heights above 17.5 kilometers (~57,415 feet/10.8 miles).

Tropical Storm 02A

Tropical Storm 02A on May 19 at 21:59 UTC (5:59 p.m. EDT) and the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder known as the AIRS instrument captured an infrared image of the storm. The infrared image showed 02A has some stronger thunderstorms around its center. Additionally, the image showed warm waters of more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit (threshold for maintaining tropical cyclones) in the Gulf of Aden and western Arabian Sea. The imagery also showed much warmer land temperatures in Yemen to the storm's north.